Hey everyone! Today we're making a gentle baby quilt with a pretty crepe fabric, and you'll learn how to let that printed border do the design work for you.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Almond/Black Deco Medallion Crepe Fabric from Fabric Depot.
It is 100% polyester crepe.
It is printed with baroque inspired medallions in the center.
There is a 5 1/2-inch border along the selvedge.
That border is a gift, folks.
It comes 58 inches wide.
The weight is light to medium.
The hand is textured and dry.
Not slick at all.
It has no stretch, which really helps us.
It has good drape.
The luster is matte, so no shine.
And it is semi-sheer, so we will plan for that.
The colors are almond and black, just like the name says.
This crepe is listed for blouses, dresses, and skirts.
Here is what I use and why.
I use it as a whole-cloth top.
That medallion print gives you a finished look fast.
Just like that, the fabric does the pretty part.
The project: a gentle baby quilt
We are making a baby quilt, about 36 by 44 inches.
That is a nice crib and tummy-time size.
No tiny piecing required.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
One panel, soft batting, and simple quilting.
Why does this fabric suit it?
The 58-inch width gives you plenty of room.
You can center the medallions with space to spare.
You can run that border along one edge.
Or trim it and add it back as a frame.
Completely up to you.
The good drape keeps the quilt from feeling stiff.
It will fold soft over a car seat or stroller.
And that textured hand helps it stay put.
It does not slide around like a slick fabric would.
Materials list
- 1 1/4 yards of this Almond/Black Deco Medallion Crepe Fabric for the top
- 1 1/4 yards of soft quilting cotton for the backing
- Low-loft batting, at least 40 by 48 inches
- 1/3 yard of fabric for binding, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- 50-weight thread for quilting
- A Microtex needle, size 80/12
- Pins or basting spray, a walking foot, and your ruler
Brief steps
First, press gently on a low, cool setting.
Go slow here.
Polyester does not love high heat.
Lay the fabric out flat and find your medallions.
Decide where you want that center to land.
Cut your top to 38 by 46 inches.
That gives you a little trimming room later.
Layer backing, batting, then top.
Smooth from the center out.
Pin every 3 to 4 inches, or spray baste lightly.
Because it is semi-sheer, your batting color matters.
A light batting keeps those almond tones true.
Set your stitch length around 2.5 millimeters.
That is about 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Test your tension on a scrap sandwich first.
Quilt with your walking foot.
Echo around a medallion or two to start.
Then add simple lines about 2 inches apart.
Travel along the edge to the next line.
Tie off your ends nice and clean.
Trim the quilt to 36 by 44 inches.
Bind it with your 2 1/2-inch strips.
Here we go.
You just made a baby quilt that looks fancy and sews simple.
Super duper sweet, if you ask me.
Practical tips from my table
Slow down or the layers creep.
That creep is the mistake I made first.
I rushed a textured top like this once.
One corner wandered almost a half inch.
The fix was easy.
I took the quilting out, rebasted, and pinned closer.
No harm done.
Hold a sample up to the light before you cut.
That ten-second test shows the semi-sheer part plain.
Pick a backing you are happy to glimpse underneath.
You can quilt it freehand with a gentle meander.
You can do ruler work for clean, straight lines.
Or you can stitch in the ditch around that border.
Three good options, and my preference is the echo.
It shows off those medallions really really well.
The rest is completely up to you.
And listen, it does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic, I promise.
A baby is not checking your stitch lines.
The family will just see a quilt made with love.
Take your time, it's not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Almond/Black Deco Medallion Crepe Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
